SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Second Lt. Robin Levesconte said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of Yellowknife residents during a Saturday afternoon barbecue to raise money for a military rehabilitation center.

Army reserve members of Yellowknife Company, part of the 41st Canadian Brigade Group's Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and Yellowknife RCMP, march on 52 Avenue in Yellowknife on Saturday to raise funds for Valour Place in Edmonton. Valour Place is a facility for Canadian Forces and RCMP personnel and family members to stay while undergoing rehabilitation for injuries sustained on the job. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

The Yellowknife Company, army reservists, part of the 41st Canadian Brigade Group Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and Yellowknife RCMP have teamed up to raise funds for Valour Place. Valour Place will be for Canadian Forces members, veterans and RCMP personnel and their families to have a "home away from home" while undergoing rehabilitation for injuries sustained in the line of duty. The centre will be the first of its kind in Canada.

"The Valour Place motto is 'Hope away from home.' It will be a home-like environment for RCMP and army members who would normally have to be housed in a hotel or travel back and forth from the base, to undergo rehabilitation treatment. Also, at Valour Place, family members can stay with them during their rehabilitation at the hospitals," said Capt. Conrad Schubert of the Yellowknife Company.

Injured soldiers returning to Canada from conflict abroad currently get treated at the University of Alberta Hospital and the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, according to the Valour Place website. There, family members get some money to cover the cost of accommodation from the Department of National Defense, but the amount is limited and covers the cost of living for only a portion of an injured soldier's actual time in Edmonton. Injured soldiers and family members currently stay in hotels and with friends.

Julie Hamilton, executive director of Valour Place, said it is being completely funded by the private sector and will be civilian-run. The only contribution from any government agency was a $1 million grant to kick start the fund raising by the Alberta provincial government. The centre has already raised $7 million so far and needs another $3 million to reach the target of $10 million.

That money will go toward building two similar facilities in other regions of Canada.

Members of the reserve and RCMP held a barbeque Saturday at the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 parking lot on Franklin Avenue

In total, the reservists and RCMP members raised $4,400 through door-to-door fundraising, pledges from friends and family members and donation boxes at different businesses around town.

Next year the goal for the 41st Brigade Group Loyal Edmonton Regiment will be to raise $750,000 for the centre, according to 2nd Lt. Gerald Fillatre, who added he was happy about the total raised to this point.

The Yellowknife reservist said work started at the facility last week and the hope is to have it completed by 2012. Valour Place will cost $3.5 million to build.

Const. Dave Chamberlin of the Yellowknife RCMP, participated in the walk and the barbeque afterwards. He said it was good to be able to support a wounded soldier program and that Valour Place will be open to RCMP members who are wounded in the line of duty as well. According to Chamberlin, there were four Yellowknife RCMP in the walk and eight Yellowknife RCMP who helped out at the barbeque.

The food and barbeques were donated by local businesses. During the event, members of the Yellowknife Company marched around Yellowknife streets with an RCMP cruiser leading the way.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.